Zimbabwe and Namibia trade mission seeks concrete deals
On 7 October, the three-day ZimTrade Outward Trade Mission to Namibia officially opened, bringing together Zimbabwean and Namibian business leaders to turn political goodwill into concrete economic deals.
Business leaders focus on agriculture
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Namibia, Melody Chaurura, urged corporate representatives to move beyond dialogue and secure supply contracts, joint ventures, and strategic distribution partnerships. She emphasized that sustained engagement after the delegation concludes will be necessary to build long-term trade corridors.
“Our engagement aligns very well with Zimbabwe’s foreign policy thrust, anchored on economic diplomacy,” Chaurura said.
The mission, led by the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Windhoek, works with the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Business forums and B2B sessions provide a venue for companies to exchange market information and explore collaboration opportunities.
Key sectors include agricultural inputs and implements, educational services, fast-moving consumer goods, stock feeds, horticulture, and logistics. This range of industries offers Zimbabwean firms a chance to meet demand in Namibia while finding areas for bilateral cooperation.
Building on its participation in the Windhoek Agricultural and Commercial Show over the past three years, the mission highlights the respective export and import environments of both countries. Presentations during the Business Forum gave participants insight into market access, trade flows, regulatory considerations, logistics infrastructure, agricultural production and opportunities for business expansion.
Minister’s office stresses trade growth
Sakeus Kapenda, Deputy Director of Trade Promotion at the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, delivered the keynote address on behalf of Hon. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi. He said strong relationships must increasingly show up in trade volume and investment.
“Our objective should be to ensure that strong relationships are increasingly reflected in the volume and diversity of trade, in investment and business partnerships between our two sister countries,” Kapenda said.
Jacqueline Nyathi, Manager for the Southern Region at ZimTrade, presented the country’s export offer and the organization’s role in supporting regional expansion. She highlighted the productive climate in Zimbabwe and the growth of agro-processing.
“We have a climate that allows us to be highly productive in terms of agriculture, and agriculture being a backbone of our economy, you will note that there is quite a lot of agro-processing that is taking place,” Nyathi said.
